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The Sports Network
Newark, NJ (Sports Network) - Deron Williams scored 26 points and dished out
nine assists, carrying the ...
Newark, NJ (Sports Network) - Deron Williams scored 26 points and dished out
nine assists, carrying the short-handed Nets over the road-weary Pistons,
99-96, at Prudential Center.
Kris Humphries added 18 points and eight rebounds, and Jordan Farmar chipped
in 15 points for the Nets, who won despite dressing only eight players.
Tayshaun Prince and Greg Monroe each netted 21 points to pace Detroit, which
dropped its seventh straight and fell to 1-12 as the visitor this season.
The Nets took a tenuous 72-71 lead into the fourth quarter but never trailed
over the final 12 minutes.
A pair of Humphries free throws broke an 88-88 tie with 5:22 remaining, and
Williams drained a three-pointer on the next possession.
New Jersey stayed in front even though the outcome was still in question until
the final buzzer.
Keith Bogans, who signed with the Nets earlier Wednesday, missed a reverse
layup with under a minute left, and Jonas Jerebko swished a baseline jumper to
pull Detroit within 98-96 with 41.9 seconds remaining.
Humphries grabbed an offensive rebound at the other end but was tied up by
Monroe for a jump ball. Detroit gained possession with 17.8 seconds remaining
and called timeout.
Prince had a chance to tie it, but missed a fadeaway from the left wing with
Shawne Williams' hand in his face. Sundiata Gaines made 1-of-2 free throws to
keep it a one possession game, but Brandon Knight hit all iron on a
straightaway three-point try at the buzzer sounded.
After playing to a 23-23 tie in the first, the Nets ended the second frame on
a 13-5 run to take a 49-38 lead into the break. Shawne Williams scored all 11
of his points in the second.
Monroe bookended a 14-4 run late in the third quarter with a pair of buckets
inside, cutting the deficit to 66-64.
GAME NOTES:
Pistons head coach Lawrence Frank coached the Nets from 2004 until early on in
the 2009-10 season...Detroit has lost four straight and six of its last seven
at New Jersey...Knight and Jerebko scored 15 and 14 points, respectively, in
defeat...New Jersey won the battle on the glass, 44-31.
The Sports Network